Saratoga Springs Police say the man in the baseball cap pictured in this still image from security footage taken at the Ballston Avenue Price Chopper witnessed an incident that led to a car chase Tuesday afternoon. Police are looking for the public's help to identify him.
Photo provided.

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- A 60-year-old woman allegedly stole a wallet from a customer at Price Chopper on Ballston Avenue, fought off a police officer attempting to arrest her and then led state police on a three-county car chase Tuesday afternoon before she was arrested.

According to Lt. John Catone, Price Chopper security called city police to report a woman behaving suspiciously in the store Tuesday and said she appeared to be sizing up people's wallets and purses as though she was going to steal something.

The woman was later identified as Kathleen Rajter, 60, of Opalka Road in Fort Johnson.

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City police officer Dan Noeker responded to the call. While he was en route, Price Chopper security called again to report that Rajter had stolen a wallet out of a customer's purse.

When Noeker arrived at the scene, the security guard pointed Rajter out to him. Rajter then fled the store and ran into the parking lot, Catone said.

According to Catone, Noeker attempted to subdue and arrest Rajter, but an unknown man distracted him and Rajter broke free.

Rajter's car was blocked in from the front but she backed up through two spots, hitting Noeker with the still-open car door in the process, and fled the parking lot.

Noeker gave chase but was not able to catch Rajter, Catone said.

At about 1 p.m., state police spotted Rajter driving on Route 67 in Charlton and attempted to pull her over based on information city police had shared with local law enforcement agencies.

According to state police, Rajter refused to pull over and led troopers on a three-county, 30-mile chase before she was ultimately arrested.

She drove into Montgomery County, into the city of Amsterdam and then north into Fulton County. While driving through Broadalbin, state police say Rajter hit a Fulton County sheriff's vehicle.

During the chase, Rajter reached a top speed of 75 mph.

At 1:25 p.m., a state police vehicle forced Rajter's car off the road and ended the pursuit. She was arrested without further incident.

Rajter was turned over to city police Tuesday night and is charged with fourth-degree grand larceny and reckless endangerment, felonies, and resisting arrest, a misdemeanor. She is also facing criminal, vehicle and traffic charges in Fulton County.

Noeker was not injured in the incident.

Saratoga Springs police are still trying to locate the unknown man who witnessed and became involved in the incident at Price Chopper. Anyone with information is asked to call city police at 584-8477 or 584-TIPS.